As some of you know, four years ago, my dad T Bruce Bowers was diagnosed with stage 4 advanced prostate cancer. It’s been a long journey of treatments, miracle remissions, and so many beautiful moments shared. We had several solid great years of playing music together, recording an album and even traveling to Cuba twice! But recently my dad’s cancer came back. He’s been undergoing new rounds of treatment over the last five months.
This time has been harder than anything so far. He's in a lot more pain and has been restricted to his bed most of the time, so my mom and I have been caregiving around the clock.
This started back in September. Since then he has been unable to work, so my mom Hope McLeod is holding everything together by a thread. She's an amazing woman. She’s a professional freelance writer and between phone interviews and deadlines she is also filling out financial aid forms and calling various representatives. The financial burden, including the rising cost of medical expenses, has taken its toll on her. I do as much as I can to help, but it’s not always enough.
She has so many big dreams as a writer and is always saying to me “I don’t know if a 67-year-old woman can succeed at this.” I keep telling her she can. I just wish I could give her enough money to not worry about paying bills for a few months, so that she can write what she's passionate about and we can both focus on taking care of my dad and ourselves during this time.
My dad is maintaining an incredible attitude still, in the face of everything. But there's really no other way to say it: cancer sucks. Money doesn't fix it, but it can at least relieve some of the additional stress around this situation. That's my motivation for doing this. On behalf of my family, we are beyond grateful for any love you feel inspired to share in the form of a donation or message or prayer. Peace.